Tiger II from Thun, Switzerland movedThe AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.

From the attached link to "Missing Lynx" message board - the King Tiger that was at Thun museum in Switzerland has been moved and is to be restored to running order. I am not sure where the the Festungsmuseum is at - does anyone know more?

The PDF files were updated, but I decided to keep an 'old' photo of the Thun Kingtiger (taken in August 2006), because I think it's a better one, showing the entire tank. Anyway, thanks Chris for the info and your photos. I also added a photo of the Shrivenham Kingtiger (thanks Dennis !!).

Seeing that a babelfish translation will come out "clunky" at best I did it myself (have in mind though that I'm not a native English speaker and the translation is Swiss Standard German to Swedish to English) :

"On September 14th 2006 the Swiss Military Museum of Full received a legendary German Tiger IIB (King Tiger) from the Swiss Army on a long-term loan. The tank will be completely restored by the museum over the next couple of years.

In the years following the end of world war 2 the French Army transferred a large amount of both different and specific German tanks to the Swiss Army. Many of these tanks were used for tests and as hard targets at firing ranges. Some of these tanks have survived till this day, on display at the open-air museum at the Swiss Army barracks in Thun. Since they have been displayed outside, exposed to the elements for 60 years, both time and weather have left their mark on them.

The history of how the King Tiger reached Switzerland from France is shrouded in secrecy to this day. There are no documents to be found detailing when and how the tank was transferred to Thun. It is also at present unknown where the King Tiger was when the war ended. The Swiss Military Museum is now trying to shed some light on these questions. The chassis number has at least revealed that the King Tiger was finished and delivered in September 1944. There are minute traces on the tank showing that it was originally covered by a layer of Zimmerit to protect it against magnetic charges.

There is one salient point of identification on this King Tiger, the blown off front part of the gun tube. If a post war picture of a King Tiger with identical damage would appear this could answer the questions of its origin and war time use. In 2006 a picture was distributed on the internet showing a King Tiger at a post war site somewhere in France. Even if the Tiger in the picture is fitted with narrow transport tracks the damage to the gun tube and other details suggest that it could be our King Tiger.

On the basis of the King Tiger's chassis number 280215, the delivery time in September 1944 and its origins in France the tank could have been used by the "Schweren Panzerabteilung 506". This has not been possible to confirm though. Any information and pictures that could shed light on the operational and post war history of this King Tiger is welcomed by the Museum!

The King Tiger's interior is largely complete. The engine and transmission is in place. What is missing is all the instruments and optical equipment, the seats, the elevating gear for the main gun, the locking mechanism for the breach block and many other smaller components. On the exterior the mudguards, the left exhaust pipe armor cover, all tools and the headlight are missing. At present the Museum is looking for the missing components. The spare track links, the middle rear deck lid, the radio communication system, the machine guns with mounts and different engine parts (for example the carburetors) have already been procured.

During the 2007 Museum season, April to October, the King Tiger will be on display in its current condition. The full scale restoration will start in the autumn of 2007. The tank will be disassembled to its components and fully restored, this will take place in a part of the Museum still available to visitors. If possible the King Tiger will be restored to running condition. The work necessary to accomplish this is estimated to several years.

The restoration will be viewable by visitors. We will continuously post pictures marking important progress on the restoration, this at the side of the restoration display."

_________________Frustra Nate Vive Devincere

Last edited by Rikard_Hufschmied on Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:46 am; edited 2 times in total

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